El Paso, Texas, is the sixth largest city in the state, with a population of over 680,000 residents. As a bustling urban center, El Paso sees high volumes of both vehicular and pedestrian traffic every day. Unfortunately, this also leads to hundreds of pedestrian-involved accidents each year.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics in El Paso
According to data from the Texas Department of Transportation, there were 793 pedestrian accidents reported in El Paso County in 2020 alone. Of those accidents, 767 resulted in injuries and 26 were fatal.
Comparatively, Harris County, which contains Houston, saw 1,026 pedestrian accidents in 2020 despite having over 4 million residents. When adjusted for population size, El Paso’s rate of pedestrian accidents is significantly higher than other major Texas cities.
Why El Paso Sees More Pedestrian Accidents
There are a few key reasons why El Paso’s pedestrian accident rate outpaces other cities:
Large Student Population
With the University of Texas at El Paso and other colleges in the area, El Paso has a high concentration of student pedestrians. Many students walk or take public transportation to campus each day. Unfortunately, some drivers are not vigilant about watching for pedestrians near college campuses.
Tourism Activity
El Paso attracts over 2 million tourists per year who come to visit attractions like the El Paso Mission Trail, the El Paso Zoo, and festivals. Tourists are often unfamiliar with the city and may jaywalk or underestimate traffic conditions.
Large Number of Low-Income Households
Around 1 in 4 El Paso residents live below the poverty line. Many low-income residents walk out of necessity and may not have access to crosswalks or well-lit streets. This increases their risk of accidents.
Urban Sprawl
The city of El Paso is quite large geographically, sprawling over 250 square miles. Many pedestrian accidents happen along highways or arterial roads. The long distances between intersections can encourage jaywalking among pedestrians trying to get to their destination quicker.
Lack of Pedestrian Infrastructure
Compared to other Texas cities, El Paso lags behind in terms of pedestrian safety infrastructure like pedestrian islands, bike lanes, and adequate lighting. The city has not invested as heavily in making roads more walkable.
Border Location
El Paso borders Mexico, which leads to a high volume of pedestrian cross-border traffic. Pedestrians crossing between Juarez and El Paso, whether Americans or Mexicans, face risks from drivers unfamiliar with the area.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in El Paso
While each pedestrian accident is unique, data shows certain causes appear repeatedly in El Paso:
Failure to Yield Right-of-Way
One of the most common causes of pedestrian crashes is a driver failing to properly yield the right-of-way to the pedestrian in a crosswalk. Texas law requires vehicles to yield to pedestrians in marked or unmarked crosswalks.
Distracted Driving
Using a cell phone while driving is illegal in Texas, but many drivers still engage in this dangerous behavior. Pedestrians often get struck because the distracted driver did not see them crossing.
Speeding
El Paso has many roads with speed limits of 40 mph or higher. At these speeds, drivers have less time to react to avoid a collision if a pedestrian enters the roadway. Higher speeds also increase the severity of pedestrian injuries.
Impaired Driving
Drunk drivers’ slow reaction times and lack of coordination greatly increase the chances of striking a pedestrian. Over 100 pedestrian fatalities in Texas involved an impaired driver in 2019.
Nighttime Conditions
Pedestrian crashes occur disproportionately at night, when low light makes it harder for drivers to see people crossing streets. Wearing reflective material reduces this risk for pedestrians.
Jaywalking
Crossing outside of a crosswalk is always risky for pedestrians. Some urban areas see more jaywalking if crosswalks are spaced too far apart or pedestrian crossing signals are inadequate.
Sun Glare
The sunny climate in El Paso can cause sun glare issues, especially early morning and late afternoons. Glare obscures drivers’ vision and makes it harder to see pedestrians along the roadway.
Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries
Due to the laws of physics, pedestrians suffer severe trauma when struck by a fast-moving vehicle. Some common injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries – If the pedestrian’s head hits the ground or the vehicle upon impact, a concussion or more serious brain bleed can occur. These require rapid treatment to avoid permanent damage or death.
- Spinal cord injuries – Pedestrians often suffer spinal fractures or paralysis from the impact forces involved. Spinal cord damage can lead to long-term disability.
- Internal organ damage – The abdomen often absorbs part of the impact, which can lacerate the liver, spleen, kidneys, and other organs. This internal bleeding can be life-threatening.
- Fractured bones – Pedestrians usually have multiple broken bones, including fractured arms, legs, hips, ribs, collar bones, and vertebrae. These require surgery and extensive rehab.
- Amputations – Severe crush injuries may necessitate amputation of feet, legs, arms, or hands. Prosthetics and rehabilitation allow mobility but it is a permanent life change.
- Skin damage – Road rash from skidding across pavement can require painful wound care and skin grafting.
- Psychological trauma – Many pedestrians develop PTSD, depression, or anxiety disorders after a traumatic accident.
The recovery from pedestrian accident injuries can be lengthy. Patients may require multiple surgeries, medications, physical therapy, and other treatments. Many never fully regain pre-injury functioning.
Legal Options for Pedestrian Accident Victims
Pedestrians who are struck by vehicles are never legally at fault, regardless of the circumstances. Drivers have a legal duty to anticipate pedestrians and stop or slow when people are crossing streets.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury in an El Paso pedestrian accident, you have the right to seek compensation from the driver to cover:
- Medical expenses from hospitalization, surgeries, medications, and therapies
- Lost income due to missing work during recovery
- Costs for hiring in-home care, housekeeping, transportation, or other assistance
- Pain and suffering
- Lost quality of life
An experienced pedestrian accident lawyer El Paso TX can evaluate your case and advise you on the best course of action.
The team at Karns & Karns Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys helps pedestrians and their families obtain maximum compensation through negotiations or personal injury lawsuits. Contact us today at 800-4THE-WIN (800-484-3946) for your free consultation. Our firm has successfully handled pedestrian accident claims in El Paso for years. We are dedicated advocates for those injured through no fault of their own. Contact us today and speak to an El Paso pedestrian accident attorney about your case.
